Souhan: At Least There's A Plan...

[Klomp]

Its good to see some positive press after this tough stretch the team has been through.

Michael Beasley was icing his ankle Tuesday afternoon. Someone asked about former Kansas State quarterback Josh Freeman wanting to play basketball when they were in college.

"I thought about playing football," Beasley said.

Position? "Quarterback."

His teammates paused, thought about it, then started laughing. One guy asked, how can a guy who never passes play quarterback?

"Man," said Martell Webster, "you'd be the first quarterback in history to be saying, 'What do we do again on that play?' "

You might ask what one of the worst teams in the NBA has to laugh about, and you'd be missing the point.

The point being: The Wolves have been so bad for so long that we view every loss as the latest indictment of a criminally stupid organization, instead of recognizing that this year's failures are different from last year's failures, and all of the failures since '05.

This is a bad team, of course. There isn't enough chocolate icing in the world to make 9-30 taste good. But for the first time in years, this is a bad team with some semblance of a plan.

This is not a team investing blind faith in Rashad McCants or J.R. Rider or Randy Foye, or even a likeable one-dimensional post player in Al Jefferson.

The way this team is being built almost makes sense, at least for a franchise that has looked to Rider or Mike James or Marcus Banks for answers.

Continued: http://www.startribune.com/sports/wolves/113324729.html

[Fire Mchale]

Agree. I feel like there's hope here. We have gaping holes in this team, but the mere fact that our weaknesses are becoming apparent shows me that it's not only fixable but that there are pieces that AREN'T broken. We need to improve at the 1 and 2, obviously. Darko has shown the ability to play at this level.....but not without fouling. I'm ok with working on that further. The 3 and the 4 look to be set, we have draft picks, young players overseas, and cap space. There's a plan. Hate Kahn or not, there's a plan here.

[funkatron101]

Rip on Beasley for being one dimensional...Then comment on how Al was one dimensional..Then say we have a plan.

ok.

[Krapinsky]

I don't think I've ever seen Souhan write an optimistic column.

[Esohny]

Shrug.

[shangrila]

Rambis rips on his defence and now Webster is ripping his passing/intelligence? The dude gets no love.

[teven_1]

There's always been a plan.
the question is do we wait (and pray) that Rubio pans out? or do we start making moves to shore up our back court?
Is Wesley Johnson our future starting 2 or what? I like him, he has a ton of potential, but at the end of the day is our plan really just to stand pat with this group and hope they develop into something special?
I don't know what to make of that. We're 9-30. Part of me agrees, part of me fears Love wont hang around long enough to see it through.
I think it's time to start thinking what FA's and rookies can help us take the next step, in 2011- 2012.

[Esohny]

There are no rookies that will solve the SG problem (except for maybe Barnes but we won't have the opportunity to draft him, so same difference). The only semi-realistic free agent is JR Smith, who is a major knucklehead.

There are some restricted free agents I'd be interested in, but not at SG (Marc Gasol I would LOVE to get, Oden I could get behind as a gamble), and their teams will be keeping them.

The two realistic options are trading for a vet or hoping that the current group gels and either Webster or Johnson turn into a serious starting SG.

[Krapinsky]

^^^I like Afflalo if he's not too expensive.

[AQuintus]

(except for maybe Barnes but we won't have the opportunity to draft him, so same difference)

Why not? At this point it looks like he'll be in the 5-10 range, assuming that he comes out (I can see your pessimism on this point). So far this year, he hasn't lived up to his hype at all and that's hurt his draft stock significantly.

[Piecake]

There are no rookies that will solve the SG problem (except for maybe Barnes but we won't have the opportunity to draft him, so same difference). The only semi-realistic free agent is JR Smith, who is a major knucklehead.

There are some restricted free agents I'd be interested in, but not at SG (Marc Gasol I would LOVE to get, Oden I could get behind as a gamble), and their teams will be keeping them.

The two realistic options are trading for a vet or hoping that the current group gels and either Webster or Johnson turn into a serious starting SG.

Webster doesnt have the quickness or foot speed to be a starting SG. Johnson, I think can, but he needs to get a much more aggressive attitude before that happens

As for Barnes, I think he projects better at a SF than a SG because he lacks quickness. We need at least one significant player than can keep up with quick, penetrating guards.

[teven_1]

There are no rookies that will solve the SG problem (except for maybe Barnes but we won't have the opportunity to draft him, so same difference). The only semi-realistic free agent is JR Smith, who is a major knucklehead.

There are some restricted free agents I'd be interested in, but not at SG (Marc Gasol I would LOVE to get, Oden I could get behind as a gamble), and their teams will be keeping them.

The two realistic options are trading for a vet or hoping that the current group gels and either Webster or Johnson turn into a serious starting SG.

Standing pat is dangerous. We are a few moves away yes, maybe with time we will even be great but with 30 teams in the L and how quickly players move from team to team how probable is it we can expect this core to stick together (especially if we keep losing)?
maybe I'm crazy but I live in fear of Love bolting in frustration at the first chance he gets (and if we keep playing like this who can blame him).
I don't suggest we make a rash move but I also don't think we should stand pat. I think we are set at the 3,4,5 positions with starters and a back up for each position (maybe another back up center couldn't hurt but meh)
we really need some help in the back court though, some smart moves would make us relevant and increase the chances our core stick together.
EDIT: I'm well aware this is vague, but if I had the answers I'd probably be the GM.

[Esohny]

(except for maybe Barnes but we won't have the opportunity to draft him, so same difference)

Why not? At this point it looks like he'll be in the 5-10 range, assuming that he comes out (I can see your pessimism on this point). So far this year, he hasn't lived up to his hype at all and that's hurt his draft stock significantly.

If Barnes has a huge 2nd half of the season and shows that he's a franchise SG, he'll go #1 but we'll have pick #4-5 and will miss him. If he doesn't tear it up, he'll stay in school until 2012 when we give up the pick to the Clippers.

[teven_1]

^^^I like Afflalo if he's not too expensive.

I was also thinking Afflalo, he'd help a lot. Sadly I highly doubt the Nuggets give him up.

how about Courtney Lee? I'd even take Anthony Morrow, fransisco Gracia.

Heck Boobie Gibson would help us space the floor.

[Esohny]

And my point isn't that the team should stand pat. We don't have the cap space or the attraction to free agents to get a good free agent, and history has shown over and over and over that the draft will not be bailing the Wolves out.

The team should trade for a veteran SG (Iggy, Monta, Mayo), like I've been advocating this whole season.

[teven_1]

And my point isn't that the team should stand pat. We don't have the cap space or the attraction to free agents to get a good free agent, and history has shown over and over and over that the draft will not be bailing the Wolves out.

The team should trade for a veteran SG (Iggy, Monta, Mayo), like I've been advocating this whole season.

Agreed. I'm really on the fence about how I feel about a "good-bad" trade like taking on Iggys contract.
he makes us a lot better, but we never become contenders. It would be nice to be Grizzlies level relevant though...
On the other hand I like Kahns goal of a championship, and that will require making very careful decisions... I just worry if we wait to long we'll end up with nothing.

Part of me would just be happy to make the playoffs but I bet once we got there I'd want more.

[Krapinsky]

Nick Young is another RFA I'd look at.

[teven_1]

Haven't watched much of Nick Young but can't say I'd be thrilled. Good scorer but (and maybe I'm just jumping to conclusions because of his age) probably wont help us close out games with good decision making

[shangrila]

I remember earlier in the season someone mentioned that the FO was looking for someone that can defend and hit 3 pointers to man that SG spot next to Beasley. They thought it would be Wes and maybe it could, but if they're looking for a replacement then Afflalo makes a lot of sense.

[teven_1]

we prolly can't get Afflalo. He's getting major minutes and is probably part of the Nuggets rebuilding future.
Flynn wouldn't interest them anyway because they have Ty Lawson.

We'd probably have to take some salaries back.

who else is available.
I like Anthony Morrow. We could probably get him for cheap, and he can hit the 3 ball.

Also boobie Gibson, but that's just me.

I think we need someone slightly higher caliber than these guys though, like an Oj Mayo caliber guy.